901:11-2-04
Somatic cell count.

(A)
During at least
four separate months within any consecutive six month period, each dairy plant
or co-operative association shall collect, at irregular intervals, and submit
producer raw milk samples to a laboratory for examination to determine the
somatic cell count. Samples shall be representative of all raw milk shipped
from bulk tanks and received in cans.

(B)
The somatic cell standard for acceptable
raw milk shall be the lesser of one million or two hundred fifty thousand per
mL. more than the standard established in rule
901:11-1-02 of the
Administrative Code. Goat milk shall remain at the same level as established in
rule 901:11-1-02 of the
Administrative Code.

(C)
A
screening test may be conducted on goat herd milk. When a goat herd screening
sample exceeds either of the following screening test results, a confirmatory
test shall be conducted using either:

(D)
Samples
shall be analyzed at a laboratory approved by the director, and the laboratory
results shall be transmitted to the department as requested by the director.
Each producer raw milk sample shall be tested for somatic cell count using one
of the following methods or any other method listed in the standard methods or
by any other equivalent method approved by the director:

(E)
The results of the confirmatory test on
goat milk for somatic cells shall be the official results.

(F)
Whenever the producer raw milk somatic
cell count exceeds the standard established in paragraph (B) of this rule, the
following procedures shall be applied:

(1)
The producer shall be notified of an excessive somatic cell count; and,

(2)
Whenever two of the last four
somatic cell counts exceed the somatic cell standard as stated in paragraph (B)
of this rule, the director shall send a written warning notice to the producer.
The notice shall be in effect so long as two of the last four consecutive
samples exceed the somatic cell standard.

(G)
An additional sample shall be taken no
sooner than three days and no later than twenty-one days after sending of the
warning notice. If this sample also exceeds the somatic cell standard, the
producer license or registration shall be suspended until satisfactory
compliance is obtained. Shipment may be resumed and the producer license or
registration reinstated by the director when an additional sample of the
producer raw milk is tested and found satisfactory. The producer license or
registration shall remain in a warning status as long as two of the last four
somatic cell counts exceed the standard. The director shall suspend the
producer license or registration immediately for at
least one day, in accordance with section
917.22 of the Revised Code,
whenever three of the last five somatic cell counts within any twelve month period exceed the standard.

(1)
The director
shall suspend the producer license or producer registration for at least seven
consecutive days, in accordance with section
917.22 of the Revised Code,
whenever a second suspension occurs within any twelve month period.

(2)
The
director shall suspend the producer license or producer registration for at
least fourteen consecutive days, in accordance with section
917.22 of the Revised Code,
whenever a third suspension occurs within any twelve month period.

(3)
The
director shall suspend the producer license or producer registration for at
least thirty consecutive days, in accordance with section
917.22 of the Revised Code,
whenever four or more suspensions occur within any twelve month period.

(4)
Bacteria limit violations shall not be included in 901:11-2-04(G).